Wairarapa United drop to second for now

Wairarapa United have lost the lead in the Central League football competition through no fault of their own.

A clash with Chatham Cup fixtures on Saturday meant Wairarapa United had their match with Napier City Rovers deferred until a later date, giving Wellington Olympic the chance to leapfrog them at the top of the points table.

And Olympic grabbed the opportunity, beating Tawa 3-0 to move to 26 points, two ahead of Wairarapa United on 24.

Napier City Rovers still hold down third with 21 points, followed by Miramar Rangers 19, Petone and Lower Hutt City 18, Western Suburbs 13, Wellington United 12, Tawa 9 and Maycenvale United 4.

Olympic, Miramar Rangers, Western Suburbs and Tawa have had 12 matches, all the others 11.

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley doesn't see the drop from first to second having any adverse affect on his squad.

"Yes, it is nice to have the points on the board but then again it's sometimes easier to motivate sides when they are in chasing mode.

"I don't think it matters one way or the other,"Keinzley said.

Both the finalists of last year's Chatham Cup are out of the competition - Napier City Rovers lost 2-0 to Lower Hutt City.

There was good news for Douglas Villa in the Capital second division series on Saturday. They gave higher-placed Tawa Bulldogs a 7-1 hiding through an impressive all-round performance.

Gardner Electrical Masterton lost their Capital third division game to Petone Armanis 3-1 and the Wairarapa United seconds drew 2-2 with Waterside-Karori Magpies in a top-of-the-table Capital fourth division match. Paul Ryder scored both the goals for United, whose dominance of the midfield battle was not as significant once Miroslav Tvaroh retired through injury.

Wairarapa Championship results from Saturday

Division one: Masterton McAuleys 3, Carterton Skulls 0; Greytown White Swan 3, Greytown A1 Homes 1; Carterton Redbacks 7, Masterton Lions 0; Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic 1, Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 1.

Division two: Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 6, Featherston United 0; Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 2, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 1; Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 2, Greytown Turkey Red 1; Wairarapa Evergreens 4, Masterton Pacific United 3.